Each year, Discovery Channel flagship science magazine Daily Planet airs one week of episodes exploring the world’s most powerful and outrageous machines. From a helicopter with a set of giant spinning saws hanging beneath it to a giant robotic arm dubbed the future of mining, the show’s production crew travels the globe for the most unusual and awesome machines around. …

Sudbury, ON. NORCAT, a global leader in the development and provision of skilled labour training and development services, today announced the acquisition of Workplace Training and Safety First. Workplace Training and Safety First’s training and development programs, services, and resources in the mining, construction, and forestry sectors will complement and enhance NORCAT’s existing suite of products and services. With the …

(Las Vegas, NV.) – Boart Longyear, one of the world’s leading developers and suppliers of drill rigs to the global mining industry, has selected to partner with NORCAT to establish their North American surface and underground diamond drilling technology development office. The presence of Boart Longyear further validates the growing and vibrant mining technology cluster anchored by NORCAT in Sudbury, …

(Las Vegas, NV.) – Hard-Line, one of the world’s leading developers and manufacturers of tele-remote control systems has partnered with NORCAT to do a live demonstration of Hard-Line’s Teleop Auto system from the trade show floor at MINExpo in Las Vegas. Hard-Line’s technology is embedded in an Aramine L130D / LHD and operators will be able to muck out a …

Crowned overall winners of the 67th annual Provincial Mine Rescue Competition Vale Canada, West Mines took the top spot for firefighting and Glencore Sudbury took the top spot team special equipment at the 67th annual Provincial Mine Rescue Competition in Sudbury, but it was mine rescue volunteers from Compass Minerals Goderich Mine that were crowned with the gold hard hats. …

Competing at the provincial level Thursday and Friday at NORCAT’s Underground Centre Seven teams of mine rescuers are hoping to walk away with the top trophy in the 67th annual Provincial Mine Rescue Competition this week. But their eyes are also on the big prize, a coveted seat in the International Mine Rescue Competition 2016 slated for Aug. 19-26 in …

New training video on respirable hazards looks to reduce worker risk in underground mining A new mining health and safety training video “Respirable Hazards – Mining” aims to raise awareness about how workers are affected by respirable hazards found in underground mines. The seven-minute video was released by the Ontario mining health and safety association Workplace Safety North (WSN), in …

The NORCAT Underground Centre in Onaping, 45 kilometres north of Sudbury, is an ideal venue for testing new equipment and technology for the mining industry. The former Fecunis Mine is accessed via an adit, boasts two kilometres of underground workings and has undergone extensive upgrades in the last few years. “We have one of the largest mining supply sectors right …

It is possible that a mine rescue team from Timmins could this year be named as the best rescue team in the world. That’s because the winner of the Timmins District mine rescue competition which is being held May 11 to 13, will advance to the provincial competition, which is being held in Sudbury in June. Normally that’s where things …

NORCAT has been selected to host the upcoming Ontario Mine Rescue Competition at its operating mine in Onaping, Ontario from June 6th to June 10th, 2016. The annual provincial competition brings together mine rescue volunteers, mining companies, government officials, and spectators in an event which showcases the skills and expertise of some of the world’s finest mine rescue personnel. Since …

Friday press conferences seem to be becoming de rigueur for Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault. Thibeault spent part of his Friday at NORCAT on Maley Drive, where he announced Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) funding to the tune of more than $847,000.The NOHFC is investing in four projects from the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT) and three small- and …

Tour highlights recent improvements and future plans for facility During a recent visit to NORCAT’s underground training and testing mine in Onaping, Dan St. Onge, the organization’s manager of training and development, said he barely recognized the site. St. Onge hadn’t visited the site – that Falconbridge formerly operated as Strathcona Mine (Fecunis Adit) – in a couple of months. But …

Change and chaos would be an apt description for the atmosphere at the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT). Employees tend to have the rumble of an entrepreneurial spirit in their bellies and a desire to collaborate with fellow risk takers. The non-profit regional innovation centre is not only one of the top 5 best places to work in Northern Ontario …

Mining vendors testing their products underground Over the last six months mining supply and services companies around the world have come knocking at NORCAT’s door to take advantage of its underground training and testing mine in Onaping. “Over the last year and a half we’ve made pretty significant investments to enhance the infrastructure of the operating mine,” said Don Duval, …